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I am a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I know that because it says so on my passport.

I'm also English.

I'm also British.

It all sounds very confusing, especially, it seems, to many Americans who insist on calling the UK 'England' much to the chagrin of its non-English citizens.

I remember watching the golfer Ian Woosnam about to drive from the first at the US Masters. The announcer began, "On the tee, Ian Woosnam of England." In a heartbeat, Ian turned round sharply and barked at the unfortunate announcer, "WALES!".

You see it is very important to us British not just to be British, but also not to be English, or Scottish or Welsh or Irish depending on where you come from. Are you keeping up? Good. Then I'll continue.

It's all down to history. The UK is politically anomalous; no other country in the world has quite our arrangement. We are not a Federation or a Confederation, we are... well, we are unique.

So a few simple explanations.

The United Kingdom comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises England, Scotland and Wales.

Great Britain is not a country, it refers to the island comprising England, Scotland and Wales. It is the largest island in Europe and the eighth largest in the world.

Britain, on the other hand, can be shorthand for both Great Britain AND the United Kingdom.

Some history.

Great Britain used to be a country. In fact it was a country between 1707 and 1800. Before 1707 Scotland was a separate sovereign state. The Act of Union created the country of Great Britain. However, from the accession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne as James I in 1603 the two kingdoms of England and Scotland were ruled jointly but not formally joined politically.

In 1801 a further Act of Union of 1800 brought the Kingdom of Ireland into the Union and the country became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. At that time Ireland was one country. With successive Unions the English parliament became a parliament and seat of government for the whole of the UK. England was the most powerful and had subjugated the other members by war and political maneuvering.

Finally, when the Irish Free State was declared and ratified by treaty in 1921 the people of Ulster opted to stay within the Union and the UK became formally the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

But what about poor old Wales? I hear you ask. How does that fit in?

Wales was not part of a union with England until the end of the

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